Dare to Believe God is for you!
Hello friends and family! It has been nearly 2 months since I last updated you. Which seems crazy but looking at my schedule you may understand why!
Before I update you though, I want to talk about what God has been teaching me in the last couple months.
My worth is not rooted in what I do for God. My self esteem can not rise and fall with my performance. I am important to God, no matter what I have done or am doing for Him right now. God longs for us to depend on Him and His power is made perfect in our weakness.
“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident” - Psalms 27:3
This is what God is helping me to share with the kids:
Since the beginning of creation we can see that God created humans to attach to one another- attachment is a good thing. God invited Adam and Eve to depend on Him fully like a father. Because many of our kids come from challenging family relationships they haven’t had this opportunity to form an attachment. We are working everyday to help the kids understand that they are sure that they are chosen and deeply loved to their core. We are challenging them to dare to believe that God is for them despite the challenges they have faced in their pasts.
“… If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” -Romans 8:31
Children’s Center
I’ve been asked to plan special events for the kids! For the month of February we had a pancake breakfast for Valentine's Day. The kids made pancakes and decorated an outdoor eating area. We had a great turn out from the missionary community! Right now I have scheduled work every Friday or Saturday along with Tuesdays afternoons. I feel so honored to have been invited to help on the leadership team. Our team consists of our directors and founders of the Cornerstone Foundation as well as two couples. I find the most challenging part of this job is dealing with discipline. I covet your prayers for wisdom in all of my interactions with the kids, specifically those of a disciplinary nature. Kids are adjusting well to being back at school full time and new leadership.
School
2nd grade is going well. We have two students who are new to 2nd grade but not to El Camino so this puts us at a total of 14 kids. Ms. Guildy and I make a great team and I enjoy so much getting to work with her everyday! We are seeing healthy spiritual growth and a lot of growth by the kids academically even under our current circumstance. In the month of February two visitors came from the US to teach music classes for the third year in a row. Listening to the kids sing worship music all week was so awesome! We still sing the songs almost everyday. This week it is Semana Santa (Holy Week) which is similar to Spring Break and is always the week before Easter. The kids have been working so hard and are deserving of this break.
Prayers
Wisdom/knowledge
Since I moved here I have desired to go to Language school here in Honduras. The team at the children's center is more bilingual than ever so it is so important that I’m able to communicate effectively. Please pray that the timing will work out so that I will be able to make this investment in my life and relationships here.
As you can imagine with my schedule it's been challenging to carve out time for rest.
Finances
Praises
Provision. God continues to go before me.
Wisdom. God’s spirit is at work.
Praise God for a break from the classroom(I have a busy week at the children’s home. PRAYERS!!)
Praise God for everyone that He has had cross my path on this adventure. My world continues to grow and I am so grateful for all of my new/old friends and family that support and come along side of me. I appreciate your prayers and support more than I can even express.
THANK YOU!
Chase Gray
